Primary lymphoma of the trachea with morphologic and immunophenotypic characteristics of low-grade B-cell lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue.

A patient with primary extranodal lymphoma arising in the trachea presented with severe upper airway obstruction. The tumor was localized at presentation. The patient has remained disease-free for 12 months following surgical resection and local radiation treatment. The tumor had distinctive morphologic features characteristic of low-grade lymphomas of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT), including a diffuse infiltrate of small lymphocytes and centrocyte-like cells surrounding reactive follicles, with plasmacytoid differentiation, and lymphoepithelial lesions. The tumor cells expressed monotypic immunoglobulin but not CD5 or CD10. This case provides evidence that primary lymphomas of the trachea in some cases are tumors of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue.     

Primary Lung Small B-Cell Lymphoma versus Lymphoid Hyperplasia: Evaluation of Diagnostic Criteria in 26 Cases.

Primary lung non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is a rare neoplasm mostly represented by low-grade B-cell lymphomas of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue. Their diagnostic criteria are now well defined on surgical specimens, but pathologists may experience difficulties in distinguishing them on exiguous biopsies from benign lymphoid hyperplasia and other lymphomas. Therefore, we examined a series of 26 lung lymphoid lesions to further define the pathologic features of either lymphoma or lymphoid hyperplasia on small specimens. We observed 16 primary lung non-Hodgkin's lymphomas with a large predominance of low-grade mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue-type lymphomas (87.5%, n = 14). There were no autoimmune disorders, but three patients had a concomitant infectious disease (hepatitis C virus and Helicobacter pylori gastritis). One patient presented with a synchronous pulmonary adenocarcinoma. As well as the classical mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue cellular infiltrate, immunohistochemical characterization of the 14 mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue-type lymphomas revealed the CD20+/CD43+ centrocyte-like cell phenotype in 10 cases (71.5%). Although the lymphoepithelial lesions observed in all lymphomatous cases have been reported in lung lymphoid hyperplasia, the determination of B-cell CD20+/CD43+ phenotype of the intraepithelial lymphocytes highly increased the specificity of lymphoepithelial lesions. A monoclonal immunoglobulin heavy chain gene rearrangement was present in 71.4% of the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue-type lymphoma specimens. Investigation of H. pylori by polymerase chain reaction detection was negative, even for the two cases associated with H. pylori gastritis.     

Primary mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue-type lymphoma arising in the kidney

Abstract:   We report a case of primary low-grade lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) arising from the kidney in a 30-year-old man with an abdominal mass in the right flank detected by ultrasonography. Radical nephrectomy was performed under a preliminary diagnosis of renal cell carcinoma. The final histological diagnosis was MALT-type lymphoma. To the best of our knowledge, only five reports of primary MALT-type lymphoma in the kidney have been published in the literature so far. All cases were surgically treated and only one case went on to chemotherapy postoperatively.     

Primary high grade malignant lymphoma of bladder

Primary malignant lymphoma of bladder is one of the rarest extranodal site for lymphomas. Less than 100 cases have been reported so far. A history of chronic cystitis has been shown to be a preceding feature in many cases (40%) of primary bladder lymphoma. Most of the cases reported in the literature have a low-grade lymphoma including the subtypes of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue. The diffuse large cell lymphoma is the most frequent type among the subtypes of high-grade bladder lymphomas. In this report, a case with high-grade primary malignant lymphoma of bladder is reported and the clinical, pathological aspects of diseases are reviewed.     

The diminishing role of surgery in the treatment of gastric lymphoma

OBJECTIVE: This article reviews the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of patients with primary gastric lymphoma, with special attention to the changing role of surgery. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Primary gastric lymphomas are non-Hodgkin lymphomas that originate in the stomach and are divided into low-grade (or indolent) and high-grade (or aggressive) types. Low-grade lesions nearly always arise from mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) secondary to chronic Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection and disseminate slowly. High-grade lesions may arise from a low grade-MALT component or arise de novo and can spread to lymph nodes, adjacent organs and tissues, or distant sites. METHODS: A review of the relevant English-language articles was performed on the basis of a MEDLINE search from January 1984 to August 2003. RESULTS: About 40% of gastric lymphomas are low-grade, and nearly all these low-grade lesions are classified as MALT lymphomas. For low-grade MALT lymphomas confined to the gastric wall and without certain negative prognostic factors, H. pylori eradication is highly successful in causing lymphoma regression. More advanced low-grade lymphomas or those that do not regress with antibiotic therapy can be treated with combinations of H. pylori eradication, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. Nearly 60% of gastric lymphomas are high-grade lesions with or without a low-grade MALT component. These lymphomas can be treated with chemotherapy and radiation therapy according to the extent of disease. Surgery for gastric lymphoma is now often reserved for patients with localized, residual disease after nonsurgical therapy or for rare patients with complications. CONCLUSION: The treatment of gastric lymphoma continues to evolve, and surgical resection is now uncommonly a part of the initial management strategy.     

Helicobacter pylori in the upper gastrointestinal tract: medical or surgical treatment of gastric lymphoma?

The treatment of primary gastric lymphoma is controversial. The role of surgery has come to be questioned with increasing knowledge about the pathogenesis of gastric lymphoma and with new therapeutic approaches such as eradication of Helicobacter pylori. We review published clinical trials of primary gastric lymphoma, including preliminary results of our own prospective multicenter trial. The results of 7 trials of H. pylori eradication and 12 prospective therapeutic trials trial are discussed. On basis of these data it is concluded that surgery with intention of R0 resection is the treatment of choice in stages EI2 and EII1 of low-grade lymphoma. In high-grade lymphomas it is still unclear whether surgery or its primary combination with radio- or chemotherapy should be preferred. The eradication of H. pylori is a promising therapeutic approach for localized low-grade mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma. A randomized trial is needed to clarify whether medical or surgical management of localized gastric lymphoma or a combination of two is the best treatment modality. Received: 30 November 1999 Accepted: 1 December 1999     

Nodular lymphoid hyperplasia of the lung: a very rare disease entity

Nodular lymphoid hyperplasia of the lung is an uncommon disease that is considered to be a benign lesion of a polyclonal lymphoid proliferation. Because of its rarity, little is known about the clinicopathologic characteristics of nodular lymphoid hyperplasia. Some researchers have questioned whether nodular lymphoid hyperplasias are truly reactive or are marginal zone B-cell lymphomas (low-grade lymphomas of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue) mimicking reactive lymphoid processes. We present the case of a 67-year-old woman with nodular lymphoid hyperplasia of the lung and discuss the current knowledge concerning nodular lymphoid hyperplasias.     

Pulmonary mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma 8 years after resection of the same type of lymphoma of the liver.

A 64-year-old woman presented with hepatic and pulmonary tumors of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma occurring 8 years apart. The present case carries the possibility of pulmonary metastasis of hepatic lymphoma or double primary lymphoma. Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphomas tend to develop in the extranodal primary organ, rarely developing systemically among extranodal organs as in our case. Our experience is useful in understanding the progress and outcome of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma.     

Indolent behaviour of low-grade B cell lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue arising in the kidney.

We report a case of low-grade MALT lymphoma (mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue) arising in the kidney. It had very indolent behaviour with multiple extranodal relapses (parotid gland, orbit, skin, breast, prostate) over a period of 13 years; presently, the patient is asymptomatic.     

Lymphomas of the Gastrointestinal Tract: An Update

The gastrointestinal tract is the most common extranodal site of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Certain lymphomas have a predilection for the gastrointestinal tract, including extranodal marginal zone lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue, mantle cell lymphoma, natural killer/T-cell lymphoma, and enteropathy-associated T-cell lymphoma. Follicular lymphoma may also be primary to the gastrointestinal tract. In addition to diagnosing neoplastic conditions, it is important to differentiate lymphomas from atypical reactive proliferations. Recent research relevant to non-Hodgkin lymphomas involving this location is reviewed with an emphasis on novel and evolving areas of classification.     

Lymphoid infiltrates of the stomach. Evaluation of histologic criteria for the diagnosis of low-grade gastric lymphoma on endoscopic biopsy specimens

Low-grade gastric lymphomas may be difficult to distinguish from benign inflammatory infiltrates on endoscopic biopsy specimens. Recent reports have suggested that so-called lymphoepithelial lesions (infiltration of lymphocytes into glandular epithelium) are characteristic of primary gastric lymphomas. We evaluated the presence and prominence of lymphoepithelial lesions and other histologic criteria in 25 low-grade gastric lymphomas (21 primary) and 58 benign inflammatory infiltrates to evaluate their utility in distinguishing benign from malignant gastric lymphoid infiltrates. The following features were associated only with lymphomas: (a) prominent (2-3 +) lymphoepithelial lesions (eight of 24 versus none of 58; p less than .0001); (b) Dutcher bodies (three of 25 versus none of 58, p = .05); and (c) moderate cytologic atypia (nine of 25 versus none of 58, p less than .0001). One or more of these features was seen in 18 of 25 gastric lymphomas (72%). Features more often associated with, but not limited to, lymphomas were dense (2-3 +) lymphoid infiltrates (25 of 25 versus five of 58, p less than .0001), rare or questionable lymphoepithelial lesions (11 of 24 versus 17 of 58, p = .01), muscularis mucosae invasion (20 of 20 versus 20 of 47, p less than .0001), ulceration (12 of 24 versus five of 58, p less than .0001), and mild cytologic atypia (eight of 25 versus six of 58, p less than .005). Germinal centers, crypt abscesses, and reactive epithelial atypia were seen with equal frequency in both types of infiltrate. Acute inflammation (2-3 +) was associated more often with inflammatory infiltrates (two of 25 versus 27 of 58, p less than .001). Our results suggest that dense lymphoid infiltrates with either prominent lymphoepithelial lesions, moderate cytologic atypia, or Dutcher bodies are highly suggestive and may be diagnostic of lymphoma. This constellation of findings is present in about 70% of endoscopic biopsy specimens of low-grade gastric lymphoma. In addition, the majority of cases of primary low-grade gastric lymphoma have morphologic, immunophenotypic, and clinical features that justify their inclusion in the category of low-grade lymphomas of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue, whereas a minority are examples of lymphomatous polyposis of the gastrointestinal tract (centrocytic lymphoma).     

Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma in the appendix, a lead point for intussusception

Appendiceal intussusception and mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma are both uncommon entities, and this is the first report of the two occurring concomitantly in an 8-year-old boy. This report of a mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma localized in the appendix has not been reported previously.     

Primary low-grade B-cell lymphoma in mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue of the lung

A 67-year-old asymptomatic woman was referred to our department for treatment for a left lung tumor. The tumor was 40 mm in diameter and was present in the left lower lobe. A primary low-grade B-cell lymphoma in the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue of the lung was suspected after a trans-bronchial lung tissue biopsy. Systemic screening revealed no other organ involvement, and the tumor was considered to be a primary lung tumor. A left lower lobectomy with hilar and mediastinal lymph node sampling was performed. Pathological examination revealed centrocyte-like cells that expressed CD20. These cells had invaded the bronchiolar epithelium to form lymphoepithelial lesions. The pathological diagnosis was confirmed to be primary low-grade B-cell lymphoma in the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue of the lung. The origin of this tumor type in the lung is relatively rare.     

Helicobacter and lymphoma

Summary. The gastrointestinal tract represents the most common extranodal site of malignant non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Epidemiological, histomorphological, molecular biological and experimental animal studies undoubtedly underline the important role of Helicobacter pylori for the development and progression of primary gastric lymphoma of MALT (mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue). Eradication of Helicobacter pylori is an important therapeutic option in low-grade gastric, MALT lymphoma of localized stage E I.      

Primary hepatic marginal zone B-cell lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue type in a liver transplant patient with hepatitis B cirrhosis

We describe the clinical, histological, and immunohistochemical features of primary hepatic low grade B-cell lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) in a liver transplant recipient with hepatitis B cirrhosis. MALT lymphomas arise in organs normally devoid of lymphoid tissue, which accumulates as a consequence of chronic antigenic stimulation associated with chronic infection or autoimmune disease. Primary hepatic MALT lymphoma is extremely rare; 13 cases have been reported worldwide to date. Our patient is the first case of primary hepatic MALT lymphoma associated with hepatitis B cirrhosis who was treated with orthotopic liver transplantation.     

Primary mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma in the renal pelvis

A primary low-grade lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue arising from the renal pelvis is extremely rare. We present a 77-year-old man with this disease which was difficult to diagnose preoperatively.     

Les lymphomes de l’intestin grêle

Non-Hodgkin intestinal lymphomas are less frequently observed than gastric lymphomas, but also derive from the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) present in a normal intestine. They comprise different clinical and histological entities which should be well defined since their treatment and prognosis will depend on their histological and clinical features. The recent advances in our understanding of immuno-histochemical profiles and different molecular abnormalities of these lymphomas, have contributed to their better diagnosis and clinical management. The alpha-heavy chain disease, known as Mediterranean lymphoma, which represents another variety of digestive MALT lymphoma, very rarely observed in Europe, will not be addressed in this review.     

原发性胃肠道恶性淋巴瘤45例分析

目的 :探讨原发性胃肠道淋巴瘤的诊治。 方法 :回顾性分析 4 5例胃肠道淋巴瘤病例。 结果 :4 5例中胃淋巴瘤32例 ,小肠淋巴瘤 5例 ,结肠淋巴瘤 5例 ,直肠淋巴瘤 3例。粘膜相关淋巴组织淋巴瘤 (MALTlymphomas)占 4 0 %。肿瘤浸润深度、淋巴结转移及是否为MALT淋巴瘤均与恶性程度相关 (P <0 0 5 )。低度、高度恶性者 5年生存率分别为 6 0 %和 36 %。 结论 :MALT淋巴瘤是最常见的病理类型。肿瘤的恶性程度是重要的预后因素。     

Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma of the duodenum forming multiple polypoid lesions: Report of a case

We report herein the case of a patient found to have mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma of the duodenum forming multiple polypoid lesions. Endoscopic examination revealed multiple small nodules with a yellow-white, rough surface in the duodenal bulb. Histopathological and immunological findings subsequently suggested low-grade B-cell MALT lymphoma. Cytologically, MALT lymphoma is similar to multiple lymphomatous polyposis (MLP); however, this case, which involved multiple polypoid lesions, was confirmed not to be MLP.